The Two “P”s: Petro’s Executions and Padovan’s Prediction Define Summit

The EU-CELAC summit is being defined by two “P”s: President Petro’s explosive “executions” charge, and Ambassador Padovan’s candid prediction. Together, these two elements have set the stage for a summit that has completely abandoned its official script.
First, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has set the tone with his fierce condemnation of a US military operation. By labeling the 60-plus deaths as “extrajudicial executions” and confirming his own citizens as victims, the host has made this a non-negotiable “priority.”
Second, Brazil’s Ambassador Gisela Padovan has confirmed this will be the central topic. She told reporters it is a “natural topic” that “will come up,” likely “brought up” by the Venezuelan delegation. This admission from the region’s largest power gives official sanction to hijacking the agenda.
Padovan’s prediction is backed by the arrival of her boss, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is there specifically for “regional solidarity with Venezuela.” This creates a powerful bloc, with the host (Petro) and the region’s heavyweight (Lula) united in their focus on US military actions.
The summit’s original purpose, the “Declaration of Santa Marta” on energy and technology, is now irrelevant. The European delegation, missing its key leaders, is a spectator. The summit is now firmly in the hands of Petro and the Brazilian delegation, who are following the predicted script perfectly.